Feed mechanism for perforating-machines.



A. DE KLEIST 6; P. L. MOGORMICK. FEED'MBOHANISM POR PBRFOARATING MACHINES;

` y APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, l911.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914;

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w/c Macaw @y @www A. DE KLEIST L F. L. MGGGRMI.GK. FEED MBGHANISM FOR PERFORMING MACHINES.

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APPLIOATIQN FILED APR. 6., 1911.

laenteolv Feb. 3, 1914,' l

A. DE KLEIST al RYL. MOGORMIGK. FEED MBGHANISM FOR PERFORTING MACHINES.

APPLIGATION ULEB APR.5, 1911, 1 l 1 v Patentedl Feb. 3, 1914.

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AUGUST DE KLEIST AND FRANK L. IVICCORMICK, 0F NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS T THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER- MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

` FEED MECHANISM FOR PERFOR-ATING-MACHINES.

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Application filed April 5, 1911. Serial No. 619,058.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten ret. s, teil4.

To ,di 'wie om it may concern Be it known that we, AUGUST DE Krans'r and FRANK L. MCCORMICK, citizens of the United States, and residents of North Tonawanda. in the county of Niagara and State of N ew York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Feed Mechanism for Performing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a feed mechanism designed more especially for feeding sheets or vwebs past the punches of perforating machines in the production of perforated music sheets for automatic musical instru ments, but the mechanism may be used in connection with other machines and for feeding other articles, if desired. In such instruments the music sheet is caused to travel at' an accelerated or gradually increased speed from the usual music roll to the take-up roll by reason of the gradually increasing diameter ofthe take-up roll, with the result that the music is played at an in.

creasing tempo toward the tail end of the sheet, this being especially objectionable in the case of musical instruments used in dancing halls and skating rinks where it is necessary to maintain a uniform tempo. ln order to overcome this objection it has been proposed to feed the sheets past the punches at a graduallydncreasing speed correspond- Ying to the accelerated speed with which the sheet is subsequently caused to trave in the instrument, thus punching `the perforations' mentary side elevation of the sheet feeding' mechanism. Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof. F ig. 4 a longitudinal section on line 4A, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar section on line tSM, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line Guti, Fig. 2. Figs. 7 and 8 are sections on lines 7 7 and 88, Fig. 2. Fig.

9 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, on line 9 -9, Fig. 6.

Similar letters o-f reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. I

Generally speaking, such perforating machines usually include a suitable'punching mechanism, rolls for guiding and feeding a perforated master sheet which contro-ls the selection of the punches, and feed mechanism for moving one or more sheets to beperforated past the punches. This punch mechanism and the devices for feeding the master sheet form no part of our present invention and may be of any suitable or`approved construction.

In the machine shown in the drawings, A indicates the stationary bed, B the punches, C the master sheet, C1 the main'feed roll of said sheet, and D themain driving shaft of the machine.

E indicates the sheets or webs to be perforated which are supported upon the bedi A, and El are the supply rolls upon which supply such sheets are wound. From theA punching mechanism, the superposed sheets pass between the gripping devices of a feeder which preferably consists of endless belts or chains F running around front and rear sprocket wheels f and carrying transverse bars or grippers f1 having facings f2 of rubber or similar material.4 Two sets of such traveling grippers are arranged above and below the sheets or webs E and the grippers of the two sets of chains are arranged to come into register at the opposing sides of the chains, so as to grip vthe sheets between 4them and feed them past the punches. While we prefer the feeder shown in the drawings. We do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, as other forms of gripping devices which seize or engage opposite sides of the webs or sheets to be punched may be employed, if desired,`

without departing from our invention.

The shafts g, g1, r/2, g3 of the sprocket wheels f are supported in bearings carried by a bracket or table G secured to the bed A and the upper rear shaft g is driven from the corresponding lower shaft g2 by gear wheels g4, g5. The lower shaft g2 of the feeder is intermittently driven by the following mechanism: l1. is an intermittently-rotated gear wheel mounted on a transverseshaft or stud h1 secured to the adjacent bracket G, said wheelbeing preferably held on said stud by a bushing /LZ-anda clamping nut h?. Motion is'tran'smitted'from the wheel h to the feeder' shaft/g2 by an idler gear h4 and a gear wheel h5 secured to the shaft g2, as shown in ,Fig 4. This idler is carried @by an oscillating arm tvpivoted upon the studvLf and clamped in sition by a bolt it? screwed into the brac et G', and passing through a curved slot hs in said arm. 'Upon loosening this bolt, said idler can be swung out of mesh with the gear wheel to stop the feeder. I is a ratchet wheel secured to the hub of the gear wheel h and engaged by a series of feed pawls j carried by a wheel or disk secured to the hub of an oscillating arm or member K, these parts constituting a clutch. .Said hub is` supported upon the bushing The arm K, which is preferably hollow, is vibrated from the main shaft D by an eccentric-hand a connecting rod k1.

lThe rear end'of this rod is coupled tothe vibrating arm' K by a connection which is gradually and automaticallyv shifted from the free upper end of said arm toward its pivot h1, as the Jpunching operation progresses, to gradually increase the` strokev of said a-rm and ofthe feeder actuated there by, thus correspondinglyV increasing or graduating the spaces between the holes punched in the sheets. AIn the preferred construction shown yin the drawings,`this traveling connection consistsof a nut or follower L attached to the rear end of said rod by a transversevpin Z passing throughthe rod and a lug #projecting from the rear side of the nut. yThis nut traverses a rotary feed screw M arranged in the hollow arm K and journaled in bearings m, m1 at the upper and lower ends thereof,said screw being .held againstlongitudinal movement on 'the arm by collars or shoulders on said screw, as shown inFigs vand 6. Fixed-to the projecting uppen end of this screw is a spur gear fn. meshing with a corresponding pinion'n1 secured to` a short shaft n2 arranged Iparallel with the screw' and mounted on a bracket N projecting inwardly from the upper end of the arm K. Secured' to the last-named shaft above its pinion .nl is a ratchet wheel o which is arranged'to encounter an actuating pawl 01 pivoted to a standard or fixed. support P mounted on the table G, so that on the backward stroke of the `oscillating arm K'the toothed edge of said ratchet wlieel strikes the nose of said pawl, rotating said wheel the distance of a tooth, turning the feed screw M a corresponding distance through the medium of the gear wheels n, nl and shifting the nut L toward the pivot of the arm K aecordingly. A correspondingly longer stroke is therebyl imparted to the ratchet wheel I and by the latter to the traveling grippers f1 through the medium o f the gear wheels 71.

to be thrown out of action, if desired, the shaft n2 is made vertically-movable in the bracket N so that the saidv wheel can be raised clear of the pawl o1. This shaft is locked in its operative and inoperative positions by a spring latch g adapted to en. gage either of a pairof grooves n3, n* inV said shaft, as shown'inFigs.l 6 and 8, or by any other suitable means.

The operation. of the-macliinemis as fol lows: Before beginning the punching of the sheets, the nut L is returned to itsv uppermost lor initial position by rotatingthe feed screw M either by a hand' tool or by attaching to its upper end a suitable power-driven head or'socket to save time. the machine, the connecting rod 701. is reciprocated with a'uniform'stroke by theec- -centric 7c. The shaft 71,1 is intermittently Uponstarting turned forwardy by the oscillating arm K through the feed pawls-j and ratchet wheel I, thus moving the opposing portions of the feed chains Fy 'forward in unison and causing their grippers fito feed the sheets p ast the' punches in an obvious manner. Upon each forward. stroke of the arm K, the ratchet wheel 0 rides idly over the corresponding pawl 01, but upon the return stroke of said arm, the abrupt side of one of the teeth of ioo said ratchet wheel is tripped by the nose o'f y said pawl and turned forwardthe distance of a tooth, rotating the feed screw M a step and shifting the nut L toward the armpivot h1, as hereinbefore described. This obviously increases the stroke of the arm K attached to the pawl disk J, with the result that the grippers f1 are caused to advance with a correspondingly longer stroke or' step. In this manner the nut L approaches said armpivot more closely with each stroke of the arm, accelerating the movement of the feeder in the same measure and gradually widen ing the .spaces between the successive holes punched in the sheets toward the tail ends of the latter.

To reduce lost mot-ion between the ratchet.

disk I and its actuating pawls y' to a minimum, a comparatively large number of fine teeth is preferably employed on said wheel in connection with a Ycomparatively large number of pawls, as shown in Fig, 9. Very satisfactory results have been obtained with a.` ratchet wheel havingone hundred and forty-one teeth and twenty cooperating pawls. This produces a practically positive and non-,slipping feed, inasmuch as one of the pawls isalways' infengageinent with a tooth of tlieratchet wheel ready. to turn it with' practically no lost motion.

As the sheets to be perforatedfari-notwound upon a take-up rolll but are fe -onv sion at all times, v:insuring punching cf the4 wardby, gripping or holding deviceswhich reliably engage opposite sides thereof, the,

sheets are kept at a practically uniform tensaine with the required accuracy.

A frictional detent'or holding"v device .is preferably employed to prevent backlash or lbackward movement of the feeder-chains under the tension of the sheets, as well as avoid overthrow or excessive forward movement of the feeder. -Forithis purpose, we preferably 'interpcse.. a ret'arding or brakedislr 1' of felt, or other suitable material be-v tween' the inner face of the hub of the gear tightly against said disk 1", to accomplishwheel z and the arm he. By means of the' nut. las and the bushing h2, thev driving gear of the feeder can lbe pressed more or less this Y result.

le claim as our invention:

1. A sheet feeding mechanism, comprising a feeder adapted to engage the HatI side of the sheet, and driving mechanism for said feeder including automatic means for accelerating the movement of the feeder from the beginning tothe end of the feeding operation.

2. A sheet feeding mechanism, comprising a feeder adapted to engage the sheet, means for intermittently actuating the feeder, driving mechanisimfand an operative connect-ion between 'the feeder and said driving mechanism includine automatic means'for gradually increasing. the stroke of said actuating means from the beginning to the end of the feeding operation.

3.. Av sheet feeding mechanism, comprising y afeeder adapted to engage .the sheet, an oscillating member operatively connected with said feeder, 'a part movable. on said oscillating member toward' and from its pivot,

.means controlled by the oscillating 'Inovement. of said member for shifting said movable part thereon, actuating mechanism for said member. andan operative connection between said actuating mechanism 'and said movable part. c

e. A sheet feeding mechanism, comprising a feeder adapted to engage the-sheet, an oscillating'meniber operatively Vconnected with' said feeder, a rotary screw carried by said oscillating' member, au vomaticmeans for turning said screw, a nut traversing the screw, actuating mechanism for said member, and an operative connection between said actuating mechanism and said nut.

5. A sheet feeding mechanism, comprisy ing a feeder adaptedto engage the.sheet,an oscillating member operativelyconnected with said feeder, a rotary screw mounted radially on` said. member, a trip device arranged in the path of movement of said osv`cillatingmember for rotating said screw, a

nut traversing the screw, driving mecha- "nism, and means operatively connectingsaid .said nut and said driving mechanism. y 7. A`sheet feeding mechanism, comprising a feeder adapted to engage the sheet, an oscillating member operatively connected with said feeder, arotary screw mounted on said member,A a ratchet wheel connected with said screw, a relatively stationary. feed pawl coperating with said ratchet-wheel, a nuttraversing said screw, driving mechanism, and an operative connection between said' nut and said driving mechanism, said ratchet wheel being 'mounted on said mem: ber and axially movable thereon to clear said pawl andV throw said wheel out of operation. 8. 'A sheet feeding mechanism, comprising a feeder adapted to engage the sheet,

,an oscillating member operativelyT connected with said feeder, a rotary screw mounted on said member,` a ratchet wheel connected with said screw, 'a relatively stationary feed pawl coperating withsaid ratchet-wheel, a. nut traversing said screw, driving mechanism, and an operative connection .between said nut`and" said driving mechanism, said ratchet wheel being mounted on said memico ber and axially movable thereon, and means fo retaining said ratchet wheel in position. 9. A-shect feeding mechanism, comprising a feeder adapted to engage the sheet, an os-l cillating member operatively connected with said feeder, a rotary screw carried by said member, a 'shaft geared with said screw and carrying a ratchet wheel, said shaft being 'slidably mounted on said member, a relatively stationary feed pawl cooperating with said ratchet wheel, a nut mounted-on said screw and an actuating rod connected withr said nut.

" 10. A sheet feeding mechanism, comprising a-feeder adapted tov engage the sheet, anv

oscillating member operatively connected with said feeder, a rotary screw carried by said member, a shaft geared with said screw and carrying a ratchet wheehsaid shaft being slidably mounted on said member and having-locking grooves, a latch arranged to engage with either of said gro0ves,.a feed paWl coperatingv with said vratchet Wheel, a

nut mounted on said screw, and an actuating rod connected with said nut.

11. A sheet feeding mechamsm, comprising a feeder adapted to 4engage the sheet, an

actuating gear for saidfeeder, means for driving said gear, and frictional detent means engaging' said gear.

12. A sheet feedlng mechanlsm, compris- .l ingv a feeder 'adapted to engage the sheet, a

said stud between said nut and said gear, an

13. A sheet'feeding mechanism, compris? ing a feeder adapt-ed to engage the sheet, a 2o Ascrew threaded stud carriedby a xed support, an actuating gear for said `feeder mounted on said stud, a clamping nut applied to saidstud, a bushing arranged Aon oscillating arm mounted on said bushing, means for actuating said arm, anda clutch connecting said gear with said arm.

l/Vtness our hands this 3d day of April, 1911.

AUGUST DE -KLnIsr 'FRANK L. MCCORMICK.

Witnesses: v I

C. F. GEYER, E. M. GRAHAM. 

